I personally am not a fan of AOL. But I just read this article. Sounds like nothing will slow AOL down now.
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As of Monday October 27th, 2003

AOL Signs Colocation Deal With Level 3

October 27, 2003 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Level 3 Communications (level3.com) said today that it has entered into an agreement to provide expanded colocation services to America Online (aol.com) in the United States and Europe. In addition to the colocation deal, Level 3 is providing AOL with 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) wavelength circuits in the U.S. and Europe, which will be integrated into AOL’s IP network, and reported the sale of metropolitan dark fiber to AOL in the U.S.

"We're pleased to support America Online's continuing efforts to deliver a world-class experience to their members," said Kevin O'Hara, president and COO for Level 3. "We believe that our technically advanced backbone, cost structure and operational excellence will add significant value to AOL and its tens of millions of broadband and dial-up members in the U.S. and Europe."

According to Level 3, its wavelength services give AOL and other customers the ability to obtain international circuits at a fraction of the up-front investment of building the transmission infrastructure themselves, while its dark fiber services help customers reduce their local loop expense and increase the physical diversity of their metropolitan transmission infrastructure.

"America Online is focused on delivering a compelling broadband experience for our members that provides access to the online entertainment, information and communication services and content they want," said Mark Muehl, vice president of Internet operations for America Online. "These agreements with Level 3 help us accommodate additional broadband usage across the AOL service."

Level 3 operates more than 70 carrier-neutral data center facilities in the U.S. and Europe.

Level 3 said the new contracts are incremental to other previously disclosed agreements with AOL and AOL contracts assumed by Level 3 as a result of its acquisition of Genuity earlier this year.

WOW I hear that AOL got a big news on 2004 major change